Peja Stojaković

Peja Stojaković
Peja_Stojakovic_Mavs.jpg: Keith Allison from Owings Mills, USA derivative work: · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
Name	Predrag "Peja" Stojaković
Position	Small forward / Power forward
Weight lb	220
League	NBA
Nationality	Serbian (born in SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia)
Birth date	August 9, 1977
Birth place	Bela Crkva
College	Arkansas–Little Rock
Draft year	1996
Draft pick	14
Draft team	Sacramento Kings
Career start	1992
Career end	2011
Years1	1992–1996
Team1	KK Crvena zvezda
Years2	1996–1998
Team2	PAOK
Years3	1998–2006
Team3	Sacramento Kings
Years4	2006–2008
Team4	Indiana Pacers
Years5	2008–2009
Team5	Toronto Raptors
Years6	2009–2011
Team6	New Orleans Hornets
Highlights	All-NBA Team (2002), NBA Three-Point Contest champion (2002), EuroBasket medals

Peja Stojaković was a Serbian professional basketball player renowned for his perimeter shooting and scoring acumen. He achieved All-NBA recognition with the Sacramento Kings, won the NBA Three-Point Contest, and represented FR Yugoslavia and Serbia and Montenegro in multiple FIBA tournaments. His career spanned top European clubs and over a decade in the National Basketball Association.

Early life and background

Born in 1977 in Belo Crkva, then part of SR Serbia within SFR Yugoslavia, Stojaković grew up during a period shaped by the breakup of Yugoslavia and the conflicts of the 1990s. He developed in the youth system of Crvena zvezda alongside contemporaries who would later feature for clubs such as Partizan and national teams including FR Yugoslavia. His early coaches included figures linked to KK Crvena zvezda and regional competitions like the Yugoslav Basketball League and Adriatic League.

College career

After initial professional experience in Europe with clubs tied to the Basketball League of Serbia, Stojaković attended Arkansas–Little Rock, a program within the NCAA Division I structure and the Sun Belt Conference. He played under coaching staffs connected to the Arkansas Razorbacks coaching tree and shared courts with future NBA prospects entering drafts like the 1996 NBA draft. Though his college tenure was brief, it placed him on scouting reports compiled by personnel from franchises such as the Sacramento Kings, Toronto Raptors, Indiana Pacers, and New Jersey Nets.

Professional basketball career

Stojaković began professionally with Red Star Belgrade and moved to PAOK BC in the Greek Basket League, where he faced clubs like Panathinaikos and Olympiacos. Drafted 14th overall in the 1996 NBA draft by the Sacramento Kings, he initially remained in Europe before joining the Kings in 1998. In Sacramento he formed a core with teammates including Chris Webber, Vlade Divac, Doug Christie, and Mike Bibby, competing in the Western Conference playoffs and memorable series against Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, and Dallas Mavericks. He earned the NBA Three-Point Contest title in 2002 and an All-NBA Team selection the same year.

In 2006 he was traded to the Indiana Pacers, where he played alongside Ron Artest and Stephen Jackson, then signed with the Toronto Raptors and later the New Orleans Hornets, teaming with players such as Chris Paul. Injuries, including knee and back issues, affected his later seasons and contributed to a decline in minutes and scoring. He announced retirement from the NBA in 2011 after international call-ups had subsided and franchises rotated rosters amid salary cap considerations set by the NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement.

International play

Internationally, Stojaković represented Yugoslavia and successor national teams at tournaments organized by FIBA Europe and FIBA World Championship. He won medals at EuroBasket competitions and was part of squads featuring stars like Dejan Bodiroga, Vlade Divac, Dražen Dalipagić-era legacies, and later teammates from KK Partizan and KK Crvena zvezda alumni. He competed at events including the FIBA World Championship and EuroBasket 2001, contributing perimeter scoring against national teams such as Spain national basketball team, Greece national basketball team, Lithuania national basketball team, and Turkey national basketball team.

Playing style and legacy

Known primarily as a sharp-shooting wing, Stojaković combined range with catch-and-shoot proficiency and off-ball movement reminiscent of European forwards who transitioned to the NBA. Analysts compared aspects of his spacing impact to contemporary shooters on teams like the Phoenix Suns and historical European exports such as Dražen Petrović and Pau Gasol. His ability to stretch defenses was instrumental in the Kings' offensive systems under coaches like Rick Adelman and influenced subsequent generations of shooters from clubs such as Real Madrid Baloncesto and FC Barcelona Bàsquet. He remains cited in discussions about three-point evolution accompanying rule shifts and analytics emphasis within the NBA.

Personal life

Off the court, Stojaković has been involved with charitable initiatives connected to organizations in Serbia and the United States, and maintained ties with European basketball institutions including Red Star Belgrade and PAOK. His family has appeared in media tied to sports philanthropy and local development projects in regions affected by the Yugoslav Wars. Post-retirement roles have included scouting and advisory positions within basketball operations similar to paths taken by former players joining franchises such as New Orleans Pelicans and Sacramento Kings.

Category:1977 births Category:Serbian basketball players Category:National Basketball Association players